Castro Releases Podcast Episode on Foreign Policy in Disarray

WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released a Diplomatic Cable episode on U.S. foreign policy in disarray under the Trump Administration that touches upon the President’s decision to lift penalties on Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE, how to bring foreign leaders to the diplomatic table, the role of women in fostering peace and security in conflict, and the possibility of mutual defense agreements in cyberspace.

“From North Korea resuming its ballistic missile production post-Summit, the President’s upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, and the growing threat of cyber activity that falls below the threshold of all-out war, we are in a time of transformation that calls for a coherent, strategic foreign policy to combat challenges and leverage opportunities,” said Rep. Castro. “This episode, featuring former Under Secretary for Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy, attempts to answer these questions and examine the costs of current U.S. foreign policy under the Trump Administration where we reward our enemies and penalize our allies over the long term.”

Future episodes of the Diplomatic Cable will include discussions with Former Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs and former Ambassador to NATO Ambassador Victoria Nuland, Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass, Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the United States Department of State Nick Burns, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Roberta Jacobson, OAS Secretary General Luis Almgaro, Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D-CA), and many other experts, practitioners, Members of Congress and American citizens. Episodes will focus on Russia’s interference in our election, repercussions of U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the consequences of a rising China, the crisis in American diplomacy and development, U.S.-Latin America relations under the Trump Administration and many more issues.